Glass is a frighteningly beautiful thing. When I was younger and more careless with my movement, I knocked my glass over at the dinner table every single evening. My mother, who sat next to me would engage in a choreographed dance with my arm, moving my glass around to prevent me from knocking it over. And for some reason, I always, 100% of the time, managed to knock it over even after that.
We are surrounded by glass objects out of function as well as beauty, often simultaneously. I went to see Dale Chihuly’s exhibit not too long ago and was reminded of the jaw-dropping creativity and flexibility of glass. He created pieces that mimicked nature and our organic environs, enlarged them, brilliantly tinted them and made it an entirely alternate experience.
Glass captures the illusion of its nascent elasticity, when it is being made and still pliable, later to cool off and become a fragile object. Perhaps that is the fascination we have with it. We adorn our homes with glass vases, bottles, glass centerpieces. From things as simple as spherical globes, to elaborate designs such as Chihuly’s pieces.
I was at a flea market somewhere in the world. I cannot remember where exactly at the moment. While browsing I purchased a glass bottle. I didn’t buy it for its function as a bottle, but for its beauty as an artifact. I bought it without intention, hoping I would use it in my home at some point to decorate. I didn’t even have a specific idea for it. Only that it was a beautiful glass bottle. It has been sitting in the back of my shelf in my kitchen, co-mingling amongst my spice bottles, not quite achieving its full purpose in life.
So on Day 349 of my 365 Release practice for non-attachment, letting to and change, I am giving away this bottle, one that I own because of lack of intention. And it is with intention that I finally let it go.
Also, for those who have been asking how they can continue to be a part of my journey even after this project, you can subscribe to my monthly email newsletter here, where I share life lessons, contemplations of awesomeness and updates on projects such as this 365 Release and much more.
[I created the 365 Release Project to practice non-attachment, letting go and change by giving away 1 thing a day for 1 year. The background, vision and guidelines to the 365 RELEASE project are here. The running list of everything I have released is here.]